This year's line-up for Pride in London is announced with a new partnership with visitlondon.com
28 April 2017
More than 60 new and returning events are expected to take place across the city, showcasing the full spectrum of London and the LGBT community, this year’s festival will celebrate the true diversity of London’s art, history, theatre, film, music and more.
Partnering with visitlondon.com, Pride in London is delighted to announce the first 16 events taking place at the 2017 Pride in London Festival (June 24th – July 9th), with the official opening taking place at Tate Britain to celebrate their major new exhibition Queer & Now.
More than 60 new and returning events are expected to be a part of the two week festival throughout the city, with highlights including, A Big Gay Iftaar, bringing together the Muslim and LGBT+ communities to open a fast together during Ramadan. Cheeky historical tours of Soho with Saucy Soho Tours, a guided tour looking at characters who’ve lived and loved down Soho’s streets. City Dash Game, a high energy, immersive treasure hunt specifically themed for the festival and LGBT+ Picnic in the Park, a special Pride picnic, with entertainment from local favourites Shkembe Soup and Broken Swing Band.
Celebrating the 21st Anniversary of London’s Gay Symphony Orchestra, the UK’s oldest LGBT+ orchestra, will be performing in St John’s Smith Square, featuring Russian classics as well as a new commission from Michael Finnissy. For under 18’s Pride Prom 2017 will provide an evening of entertainment from LGBT+ performers and DJ’s in a healthy and safe environment.
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “London’s LGBT+ community is one of the largest in the world, and I was proud to lead last year’s Pride march and to be Mayor of a city that doesn’t just tolerate diversity, but truly embraces and celebrates it. This year’s Pride in London programme reflects the full spectrum of the capital’s LGBT+ community and I urge all Londoners to immerse themselves in the festivities, proudly wave the rainbow flag and make this year’s Pride in London the biggest and most colourful yet.”
Peter Flynn from Pride in London said: “Pride in London is not only a celebration of the LGBT+ community, it's a celebration of the city itself.
“London is one of the most diverse, welcoming and accepting cities in the world and we're proud to be part of it, and we’re delighted to work with Visit London. Pride in London strives to be a beacon to the rest of the world, and hope people from across the U.K. and beyond will come to London this year and join the celebrations.”
Visitlondon.com, London’s official guide to the city, is the digital home and partner for this year’s festival. A dedicated website visitlondon/Pride-in-London will launch on 19th May to provide information and inspiration for visitors to the festival and parade day.
London & Partners Media & PR Team
Tel: +44 (0)20 7234 5710
Switch: +44 (0)20 7234 5800 press@londonandpartners.com Twitter: @London_PR
Notes to editors
Visitlondon.com, London’s official city guide, will be the consumer-facing home and a lead media partner of the Pride in London festival and parade this year. A bespoke microsite, www.visitlondon.com/prideinlondon, will be launched on May 18th, providing information and inspiration for visitors to the festival and parade day. Working closely with the Pride in London team, visitlondon.com will provide comprehensive digital marketing support for the event, including email, social media and web channels, as well as ongoing content updates for the latest information about the event. The new Visit London app will also provide information for the festival and parade, offering users an enhanced visitor experience during their time in the city.
Festival Events programmed so far
New for this year:
Queer & Now: officially Launching Pride in London Festival
The official launch of Pride in London Festival 2017 with Tate Britain. In the daytime there will be activities for families, stalls and food, inside and outside on the gallery lawn, as well as talks and performances within the main collection, which will highlight related collection works and contemporary displays. The evening (from 6pm) will see the gallery filled with music and performance, talk and discussion, bringing together key contemporary voices and perspectives from across the LGBT+ community.
Sat 24 Jun, 2pm-10pm.
Free admission. Some exhibitions are charged for.
Tate Britain, Pimlico.
National Theatre partnership Pride in London and National Theatre are collaborating on a series of events during the festival period. Events will include readings directed by Tarrell Alvin-McCraney, Polly Stenham and Stephen Daldry; a new exhibition in the Lyttleton Foyer, In Visible Ink and Platform events to be announced.
Full details and dates announced in May.
Jerry Weeks: “All we need is Love? What 1967 meant for us.”
Activist, historian, sociologist and author Jeffrey Weeks traces LGBT+ history through the long and haphazard journey from 1967’s Summer of Love to where we are today. Presented in association with Opening Doors London, the biggest charity providing information and support services for older LGBT+ people in London and the UK.
Mon 26 Jun 2.30pm-4.30pm
Free
Opening Doors London, Tavistock Square
Britain on Film: LGBT Britain
The Independent Cinema Office’s new LGBT+ series of archive film programmes premiers at BFI Southbank as part of Pride in London Festival ahead of a UK tour.
Tue 27 Jun 6pm.
£6.50.
BFI Southbank.
Rosie Wilby Book Launch
The radio broadcaster and writer launching her new book. Mixing humour, heartache and science, Is Monogamy Dead? details Rosie's very personal quest to find out why Western society is clinging to a concept that doesn't work that well for some of us and is laden with ambiguous assumptions.
Thu 29 Jun 7pm-9pm.
Free.
Gays The Word bookshop, Bloomsbury
City Dash Game A high-energy, immersive, Soho-based treasure hunt meets hide & see, specially themed for the LGBT+ community as part of the Pride in London Festival.
Sun 2 Jul 2pm-4pm.
£20.
Starting point is central Soho and revealed to bookers in advance.
LGBT+ Picnic in the Park
A special Pride Picnic organised by the Victoria Park Friends Group, with entertainment from local favourites Shkembe Soup – bringing Arabic/Turkish/Roma Gypsy Music & dance with a rock & roll twist – the ever popular Broken Swing Band and drag artist Ruby Galore.
Sun 2 Jul 2pm-5pm
Free
Victoria Park, Hackney
Marlene Dietrich: The Ultimate Gay Icon
A discussion and screening at The Cinema Museum exploring the career and life of one of cinema’s most enigmatic, sexually fluid performers.
Thu 6 Jul 7.30pm.
£11.50.
The Cinema Museum, Lambeth.
Jake Graf: In Discussion A series of screenings of Jake's short films Dusk (2017), Chance (2015) and Headspace (2017) followed by discussions with Jake on them and his experience of transgender life. Thu 6 Jul 6.15pm.
Free.
Warner Brothers HQ, Holborn.
Summer in London
Theatre Royal Stratford East present a hilarious new romcom with a vibrant transgender cast written and directed by Rikki Beadle-Blair.
Sat 9 Jul – Sat 29 Jul, eves 7.30pm, matinees Thu and Sat 2.30pm
£12 - £25
Theatre Royal Stratford East, Stratford
Returning:
A Big Gay Iftaar
Bringing together the Muslim and LGBT+ communities to open a fast together during Ramadan, otherwise known as 'iftaar'. The intention is to talk to one another, learn about each others' faiths, cultures and sexualities and spread some love. Food will be provided and the event is open to everyone, regardless of background or sexuality.
Sat 24 Jun 8pm-11.30pm
£15
St Andrew's Church, Southwark
Saucy Soho Tours Join three Westminster Guides for an intimate look at some of the characters who’ve minced, lived and loved down Soho’s streets. Cheeky historical tours of Soho that end with a pub stop.
Sun 25 Jun & Sat 1 Jul 1pm and Wed 28 Jun, Mon 3 - Sat 8 Jul, 7pm
£15.
Meeting place: Palace Theatre, Cambridge Circus
Pride Prom 2017
An under 18s LGBT+ youth event in a healthy and safe environment. An evening of entertainment from LGBT+ performers and DJs, with no alcohol in collaboration with Mosaic LGBT Youth Centre.
Sat 1 Jul 7.30pm.
£9 / £10 on the door.
Strictly under 18s only.
London Gay Symphony Orchestra's 21st Anniversary Concert
The UK’s oldest LGBT+ orchestra celebrates its 21 years of LGBT+ music-making featuring Russian classics as well as a new commission from Michael Finnissy, winner of two 2015 British Composer Awards.
Sun 2 Jul 7pm.
£10 - £15.
St John’s Smith Square, Westminster.
The Pride in London Spectacular 2017
A night of music and entertainment profiling the amazing talents from London’s LGBT+ community. Mixing established artists with newcomers from the community in the glorious surroundings of the Paradiso Spiegltent at London Wonderground at Southbank Centre, expect a glittering jewel of an evening as part of the Pride in London Festival 2017.
Mon 3 Jul 7pm onwards
Price £15.50 / £14 concession
Paradiso Spiegltent at London Wonderground at Southbank Centre
Southbank Surfing Pride Party
An all-inclusive LGBT+ party for you, your friends and straight allies with two floors, two bars and a host of DJs.
Sat 8 Jul 8pm
£8 - £12 in advance online / £15 on the door.
Clerkenwell & Social, 2-5 St Johns Square
Contact
London & Partners Communications Team
Email:press@londonandpartners.comLondon & Partners Media & PR Team
Tel:+44 (0)20 7234 5710
Tel:+44 (0)20 7234 5800
Email:press@londonandpartners.com